Bestselling author Cindi McMenamin has more than thirty years of experience ministering to and inspiring women. Besides speaking throughout the U.S., Cindi has made numerous TV and radio appearances on shows that include Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson, Moody Broadcasting’s Prime Time America and Midday Connection, At Home Live, The Harvest Show, 100 Huntley Street, Not Just Talkin’ the Talk, and His Love Extended.

Cindi and her husband, Hugh, live in the San Diego area of Southern California where Hugh is a pastor on staff at North Coast Calvary Chapel in Carlsbad. They have been married nearly thirty years and have a daughter, Dana, who is a graduate of California Baptist University.

What started you on your writing journey?

From the time I was five years old I loved to write. Books have always been on my heart, but I majored in journalism and worked for a newspaper for five years (as a reporter, bureau chief and editor) so I could write and make a living at it. When I had my first child, I quit my career job with the newspaper to stay home and I began writing and teaching Bible studies for women. My writing and speaking career then developed out of my experience discipling and teaching women the Word of God.

The Author and Creator of our lives often writes in a twist that ultimately blesses us more than our original plan. Have you ever experienced such a “Divine Detour”?

Oh yes, my life is full of the unexpected twists and divine detours that turn out to be God’s blessing and provision in my life. I am convinced today that when God says “no” it’s because He has something far better than I thought to even ask for. My detours included not marrying the man I thought I would, not being able to have a second child but birthing a writing and speaking ministry instead, and wanting my first book to be called “Pathway to a Prince” about how to find the perfect man, but writing instead a book called Heart Hunger about how only God can meet our emotional needs.

There are two kinds of drama: the drama that life brings through unexpected events that take us by surprise, and the drama we bring upon ourselves by how we react to circumstances around us. But we can be drama free when we accept God’s script for our lives and begin to respond maturely rather than react emotionally. In this book I show women how they can dial down the drama in their lives, respond appropriately to situations that would otherwise escalate, incorporate “scene changes” to eliminate inevitable drama and view high-maintenance individuals through the eyes of Christ.

What led you to write about this topic?

I constantly receive emails from women asking me how to balance their emotions in the midst of the drama they’re experiencing. And since I’ve often been called “dramatic” even though it’s the desire of my heart for Christ to have the spotlight in my life not me, I figured it was time to write about how we all can be drama free by letting Christ have center stage in our lives

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A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why? I go to Chick fil A, which I call my “happy place” and eat just about anything they serve there. : )

What Bible passage or story best describes your personal journey of faith?

Isaiah 55:8-11. I discovered that verse when I was trying to grapple with why God would allow my parents (who raised me in the church) to divorce when I was nineteen years old. He made it clear to me that His ways are higher than mine and that was the day I took ownership of my faith and surrendered my future and my need for answers and began to rest in Him.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

I think of my life as a love story between me and my Maker. He is the One who rescued, provided for me, and continues to sweep me off of my feet. Not that I’m the “super” heroine…. more like Cinderella who was taken out of her bondage and broken home and made a princess (and joint heir with Christ) and given the opportunity to live happily ever after.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, or your favorite pet as a child.

Mowgli, my daughter’s little black cat, loves to sleep on my desk and behind my laptop at times, while I’m working. He’s also been known to push my laptop shut as I’m writing, or press certain keys to mess up my document. Mowgli keeps me company as I’m working and keeps me entertained when I’m not. (See picture!)

Thank you, Cindi! It’s a pleasure to have you as a guest at Divine Detour.

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Kathy Harris is an author by way of a Divine Detour into the Nashville entertainment industry. She has contributed to several inspirational non-fiction books. Her debut novel, The Road to Mercy, was released in September 2012.

Linda Veath
Contributor

Linda Veath is a regular contributor to DivineDetour. She recently retired after twenty-five years as a district office secretary for the State of Illinois. Her first loves are studying the Bible and reading, but she occasionally tries her hand at writing. Her work is published in All My Bad Habits I Learned from Grandpa (Thomas Nelson), The One-Year Life Verse Devotional (Tyndale), Life Lessons from Grandparents (Write Integrity), Love Is a Verb (a devotional from Bethany House), and Chicken Soup for the Soul’s I Can’t Believe My Dog Did That. She lives in a small town in the Midwest with the “Bone Mafia,” her two indoor/outdoor mutts.